10 new things to know about taxes

As the deadline to file state and federal income tax returns approaches, millions of Americans are getting their paperwork in order, pulling out their calculators or making appointments with tax pros.

Gerry Tuoti Wicked Local Newsbank Editor

As the deadline to file state and federal income tax returns approaches, millions of Americans are getting their paperwork in order, pulling out their calculators or making appointments with tax pros.

Each year, there are several changes to state and federal tax codes that could affect taxpayers payments or returns. Here are 10 changes to know about doing your taxes.

Due date: Taxpayers will get a few extra days, until April 18, to file this year. Because the normal due date of April 15 falls on a Saturday this year, and the following Monday is both Patriots Day in Massachusetts and Emancipation Day in Washington, D.C., taxpayers have until Tuesday, April 18, to file their 2016 returns.

Lower state rate: Because the state met certain economic benchmarks, the Massachusetts personal income tax rate has fallen to 5.1 percent for tax year 2016, down from 5.15 percent the previous year.

Pay by cash: In addition to electronic payments and credit card transactions, the IRS now accepts in-person cash payments for federal taxes, up to $1,000 per day per transaction. People paying by cash must first register online at officialpayments.com/fed, where they can also find information about payment locations.

Expired ID numbers: Many federal ITINs, or individual taxpayer identification numbers, expired Jan. 1. ITINs are used by people who are not eligible for a Social Security number but are legally required to file tax returns. Taxpayers can find more information on ITIN renewals at IRS.gov/ITIN.

Changes for commuters: The state tax code has been changed so employer-provided parking, transit passes and vehicle benefits no longer count toward a person’s gross income. The federal standard mileage rate for 2016 is 54 cents per mile, down from 57.5 cents the previous year.

Earned income tax credit: Many low-income workers in Massachusetts will get a bigger tax break in 2016. The state raised the earned income tax credit to 23 percent of the federal credit, up from 15 percent. The income limit to claim the earned income tax credit varies depending on family size and filing status. The threshold ranges from $14,880 for a single filer with no children to $53,505 for a married couple with three or more children.

Personal exemption: The federal personal exemption has risen by $50 to $4,050 for most taxpayers. The exemption is smaller for certain high-income filers who earned more than $155,650 if married and filing separately, $259,400 if single, $285,350 if head of household, or $311,300 if married and filing jointly.

Itemized deductions: High-earning taxpayers may not be able to deduct all their itemized deductions if they have an adjusted gross incomes that disqualify them from claiming the maximum personal exemption.

Head of household: The federal standard deduction for those filing as head of household has increased by $50 to $9,300. Other standard deductions remain unchanged at $6,300 for individuals and $12,600 for married couples filing jointly,

State circuit breaker: The Massachusetts senior circuit breaker tax credit has increased. A property owner or tenant age 65 or older may be eligible for a credit of up to $1,070. The income limit is $57,000 for individuals, $71,000 for heads of household and $86,000 for joint filers. The property cannot be assessed at more than $720,000.